Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, and the United States have pledged to continue their collaboration on a number of areas, particularly in preventing radicalisation, increasing access to employment, particularly youth employment, promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

They have also expressed their intent to strengthen partnerships especially with USAID, and programmes aimed at preventing violence against women.

This came up during a recent meeting between a delegation of the OIC headed by Ambassador Yahya Lawal, Acting Director-General for Political Affairs and Director for African Affairs with the officials of the US Department of State at the inaugural OIC-US bilateral consultations.

Ambassador Thomas Shannon Jr., Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the United States welcomed the consultations and stressed the importance of maintaining close ties between the two sides. The two days meeting was chaired by Arsalan Suleman, Acting Special Envoy of the United States of America to the OIC.

The delegations exchanged views on a wide range of issues concerning to the OIC, including the situation in Palestine, the ongoing situation of the Rohingya Muslim minority, the global refugee crisis, humanitarian assistance, The Istanbul Process, the importance of interfaith and intercultural dialogue, global women’s issues, terrorism and other regional issues of mutual interest.

The OIC has hoped that such bilateral consultations will further enhance cooperation with the United States and will be held annually, alternating between Washington DC and Jeddah.